When The Canary Sings

Back Again

First Person Point of View: Becca Blue: 

* 

"'M tired," I complained, one hand holding my guitar, one hand holding Will's. "Why did we make the show so long?" I asked both of us, "We started at seven! Se-ven! It's two in the mornin'!" I yell to the wind, and Will chuckles behind me. The streets are empty, and the whole district is asleep.

"Just everyone gettin' their reaping jitters out." Will responds, gently rubbing my hand with his thumb, and my heart flutters for a hot second, but I can't tell if it's from him, or the mention of the reaping.

"I can't believe it's been a year," I say, looking up at the stars and slugging my legs. I had spent seven straight hours jumping, dancing and singing to the entire district who showed up at the Hob for the show. Worried parents and petrified children, although some filled with a newfound hope. If the runt girl, me, could win at thirteen, then maybe we did have the same odds as everybody else. "And now I have to mentor, what if I get someone I know? What if–"

"I won't." Will says, and I can tell he's lying. Well, not lying, he's uncertain. He's afraid.

"How many times is your name in?" I ask, he's fourteen, meaning his name should only be in three times, but I know he's signed up for tesserae, to help feed him and Sae, despite my constant handouts.

"Twelve times," Will answers, and I stop dead in my tracks, eyes wide.

"There's kids with more entries than mine." Will assures, "I heard that that Gale kid has his name in forty-two times." Will said, rubbing his hands up and down my arms, "and even if I do get reaped–which won't happen–I'll make it back to you."

"Promise?" I ask, looking up at him with eyes that hurt from being so tired.

"Cross my heart." He said, drawing an X over his heart, and for a moment, I get a vague sense of deja vu. He takes my hand again, and we continue walking.

Well, only half way.

One thing led to another and we both got way too tired to make it all the way across the district to victor's village, so we stop in the Seam, which is way closer to the Hob. Will takes my hand and leads me through the Seam, although I know the dirt roads like the back of my hand. I lived here too, my whole life, actually.

I pass by my old house, and I can almost hear the laughter and the music, and I can almost feel the warmth from the fire, and I think I see a flash of yellow light, but there is nothing. It is cold and empty. We keep on going.

He takes me to his house and slowly pushes open the creaking doors. I missed when the doors creaked. We walk through the kitchen and pass the room Sae sleeps in. Will leads me through a slim hallway and into his bedroom.

I lay down on his bed, fully clothed, and shut my eyes. He lays down next to me and like when a flame is blown from a candle, we are blown into sleep. Although the bed is filled with hay, it is the best sleep I've gotten. The smells, the noises and the air was different in the Seam. To me, the Seam was my real home.

As peaceful as my sleep was, the morning was not.

"Up and at 'em!" Sae called as she tore the blankets off of Will and I. Quickly, I leapt up and looked outside. The reaping was at two, and the sun was at its peak. "It's noon! Don't you have some pamperin' to do instead of sleeping with my nephew, little missy?" Sae asked, and my face flushed.

"I wasn't–" I stammered, and looked down to Will who had a lazy grin and a faint blush on his face. I sighed, "you know ya love me," I laughed to Sae, but immediately made a mad dash out of their door. Ignoring the summer heat, I bolted down the road and didn't even think of stopping until I reached my house in victor's village.